Dale bent over the ship's deck handrails, looking at the little silver fish that were splashing around on board. It was the twentieth day of the voyage. Almost three weeks ago, he left Cof on the ship. With a woman, he had never seen before. He left his family, a job, a familiar life. For Miriel's sake.
On the eve of salmon, when he last saw his beloved, he called her on a long voyage. He told her: "I would follow you to the end of the world. How soon I had to keep my promise... But Miri wasn't there. Where is she now? Does she think about him? Does he expect to come to her rescue?
Dale returned mentally on the night of the salmon, to the Gypsy circus. White roses blossomed under the magician's hand and immediately scattered petals over the heads of the audience. The tent sighed admiringly. The guy put his hands in the air, picked up a handful of petals. They smelled like real ones.
Dale turned to the place where Miri was talking to the Gypsy call girl a few minutes ago. He wanted to sneak up on the bride from behind and pour fragrant petals on her head. But neither she nor the gypsy saw. He looked around.
- Don't look," he heard a quiet woman's voice. - They are not in this tent. And in general, on Remidei.
Dale turned to his voice. A short girl, his age or slightly older, stood in front of him. Like Shavra, she could be taken for a gypsy at first sight. Dark-eyed, dark-eyed, with a long face, pointed chin. Only small differences in the section of eyes, nose, lips, ears and nose shape did not give her a Remidian origin.
- Did you tell me? Who is not on Remidea? What are you talking about?
- About your friend. That woman kidnapped her.
- What makes you think so?!
- I will tell you. But first, let's get out of here. I don't know exactly, but I think she'll be right back to kidnap you. Then you won't be able to rescue your friend.
- Who are you?
The girl spoke quickly, quickly:
- Please, come with me from here! It is dangerous for you to stay here. If we get away from this circus, I'll explain it to you.
She grabbed his hand and pulled him along. Dale tried to resist, restrain himself, and not go after the strange girl. And he felt like his palm was glued to her palm, and an invisible pole leaned against her back, pushing after the stranger.
Like a calf on the occasion, he ran after her from the tent. His legs carried him through the alleys and alleys of Kof while his hand remained glued to the girl's hand.
A quarter of an hour later, the stranger finally stopped. Dale took a breath.
- I'm sorry," the kidnapper said. - I had to put magic on you. You didn't want to obey, and I understand you. But there wasn't a second. I was right - Orshava went back to that tent. Behind you.
- Orshava?
- The woman who gave you tea. Who pretended to be the owner of the circus Shavroi. Who kidnapped your fiancée and was going to kidnap you.
- Why?!
- I will tell you on the ship. We will delay, Orshava will track us down and catch up. I won't have the strength to fight her
- On the ship? Fight? - Dale was amazed, but the girl grabbed his hand again and dragged him towards the port.
- Orshava is a magician," she explained on the run. - And so am I, but much weaker. My name is C'Ran. I'm from Merkana, just like her. That's all I can tell you until the ship sails.
- What ship?! Where will it sail to?
- To Merkana. Under the protection of my Order.
Dale was so overwhelmed; he couldn't say another word. C'Ran was quiet all the way to the port, too. She stopped at the quayside of the five-masted galleon, whistled. The same minute, the gangway was thrown over the side. The girl ran over it, and Dale, still glued to her with invisible glue, followed.
On deck, they were met by six men in plain clothes, but made of expensive and comfortable fabric. Skipper, first mate, pilot, quartet, bosuns - quickly identified Dale. Craftsmen of the port city knew the order and hierarchy of the ship's crew well.
C'Ran said something in an unfamiliar language. She gave the command, judging by her intonation. One of the men nodded to the other, who poked down his throat in the same tongue. A dozen sailors jumped out on deck immediately. Four of them rushed to rotate the mechanism that raised the anchor. The rest of the crew scattered across the bowsprits, breaking out the sails.
Dale did not have time to look back, as the ship, swinging on the waves, moved west, away from the coast of his native Cof in the night ocean. Dale was looking at the coastal lights, moving away more and more rapidly as the ship was gaining momentum. Will he see them again? Will he return to Remidea to meet Miri?
C'Ran came up and put her hand on his shoulder. In the reflections of the ship's lanterns, Dale saw genuine sympathy in his brown eyes.